1956 ... "Battle of Palmdale"

 ... I had heard of this; but an enthusiastic fan provided much more info (and he just can't stop laughing about it!) The fan, Greg Renner, also provided the 'commemorative' art !

... on the morning of 16 August 1956, the USAF was trying desperately to shoot down a large, errant target drone which had wondered off on it's own over Los Angeles. A Comedy of Errors with so many details it's best to follow the links to catch all the fun!

                                                                 

wiki LINK

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1996 ... REACT (Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting)

... complex computery stuff to launch WW3; best explained in this most righteous blog: 

                                                                     LINK

1962 ... Soviet documentary on the 'Tsar Bomb'

                                                                 LINK

 

 

 

1961 ... a lot of fun at parties!

... B-41 Hydrogen Bomb - yield 25 megatons - 500 built - largest weapon ever fielded by the the USA.

1983 ... MIRV (single)

                                                                   LINK

 

... every time I look at this picture; I can't help thinking of this scene from 'True Lies'.

 

 

 

... cutie commie!

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1966 ... know your missiles!

1962 ... Space Race

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostok_3KA#Vostok_3KA

Much of the Space Race of the early 1960's was about which side had the bigger rockets. Putting men in space was a noble cause but they were riding into orbit aboard modified Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). So a three ton Vostok manned capsule represented a considerable ability to throw H-bombs at the other side of the planet.

...gritty

Serious scowlers these communists. You'd be scowling too if your WWII death toll far exceeded all other countries combined!
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Soviet sailors didn't get much chance to serve aboard ships in a Navy that went kaputsky- so usually they are seen like this- serving as foot soldiers.
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I used to think that the big stars shown on Russian soldiers helmets were a bit of artistic license for the posters- but they really did that. Wonder if it made a good target. "Hey Comrade, hand me that sand paper!"

juggernaut of people's press rolls forth more uplifting posters of socialist triumph !!!

"Don't stop waving until the artist puts his brush down- do you want to be shot?"

The Peoples Squadrons of menacing red toy airplanes will forever keep our glorious sky's free!

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early Soviet posters

 Giant Stalin and other guy balloons float over Thanksgiving Day parade. Worlds largest paper mache tanks pass in review.

Lenin does interpretive dance- has anyone ever seen this guy smile?

In the color and font division of the propaganda war the Soviets had us beat hands down.
"That's straight tens for the Russians on modernist, negative space usage. Bad news for the Americans who seem to be stuck in colloquial realism. Boy,that's gotta hurt!"

Russia was soooo into Red

I love propaganda art. East or West. But the Communist Block nations had stuff that was so over the top it makes us "dirty capitalist swine" look lame in comparison. Much of Western propaganda came in the more subtle from of the biggest brother of the capitalist system- advertising.

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